XULA defeats Carver by 50 in first of two weekend hoops meetings

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana filled up the stat sheet Saturday and cruised to an 89-39 women’s basketball victory against Carver.

XULA (8-6) and the Lady Cougars (1-5) will meet again at 1 p.m. Sunday at XULA’s Convocation Center. It will be XULA’s regular-season finale.

It was the 26th time in the Title IX era that XULA won by at least 50 points and the first time since its Convocation Center debut, an 88-34 decision against Johnson & Wales (Fla.) on Nov. 3, 2012.

Nina German, 8-of-11 from the floor with a career-high-tying 16 points, was the lone XULA double-figure scorer. Nia Bishop, Anica Gacevic, Rayna Ross, Da’Jha Virgil and Jelisa Smith scored nine points apiece, and Alexis Burke had seven.

Gacevic was 3-of-3 on 3-pointers. Smith made a season-high three treys.

German’s basket at 5:44 of the third quarter made it 62-21 and gave XULA a lead of at least 40 points for the remainder of the game.

Deshae Holiday and Talia Williams scored 10 points apiece for Carver, which dressed six players and finished with five after Amani Fitzpatrick fouled out in the final minute of the third quarter.

XULA led 28-8 after one quarter, 47-19 at halftime and 79-29 through three quarters. XULA outshot Carver 37.8 to 21.6 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Cougars 70-38. XULA committed 22 turnovers but gained a season-best 38.

XULA produced season highs of nine made 3s, 10 blocked shots and 28 assists. Bishop had nine assists, and Burke produced a career-high five. Irons had four of XULA’s 19 steals, giving her 10 in the last two games.

It was the first-ever meeting between these women’s teams. Carver is a National Christian College Athletic Association member from Atlanta.